Name: Painted
ISBN: 9781643378497

Helen Mullane

Kev Sherry

A young supermodel reflects on a series of events that, as a teenager, brought power...then tragedy. Selene and Sophie are typical high-school girls. One day, when Selene’s period is used to make her the target of schoolwide humiliation, she realizes it’s time for a revolution. Inspired by the Celtic face-painted warriors of her ancestry, Selene sets out with her friends to challenge the patriarchy. But when the ferocity of the real world comes crashing in, the girls’ identities are shattered, and they are le to pick up the pieces all on their own. Painted deals unapologetically with bullying, violence, language, drug use, death, the bonds of sisterhood, and—above all—the power of friendship.

Painted

Billie Yankulova

I received a free eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. 
I think, in one way or another, we all know a girl like Selene - the one that seems fearless and so knowledgable, but when you grow up, you realise she was simply loud. She was just as scared and confused as the rest of you, only she hid it behind bold proclamations and even bolder actions. 
This graphic novel, aside from being beautifully drawn and laid out, manages to touch on what growing up with buried guilt is like, and how trauma can be inflicted, even by the people we never imagine to be capable of hurting us. It talks about what being in a co-dependent relationship can look like, and how no one sees the signs if it's platonic.
The storyline was clear and cohesive, building in tension and slowly bringing the reader into the characters' world. 
Unfortunately, while the end is definitely bold, and something that in the real world would shine a light on what abuse can do to a girl's psyche, it falls a little flat. I wish it would have dealt more with Sophie's guilt and trauma instead of playing it off for shock value.
Sometimes, the less shocking course of action can have a long-lasting effect.